The fire hissed and smoked as the soggy wood burned, barely chasing away the chill. Sorsha frowned down at the smoldering branches, trying again to light them by magic.
Darkness had swallowed the mountain whole, bringing with it a bone-numbing cold. My muscles ached from shivering, and my teeth clacked together.
Miraculously, our spooked horses had made it out of the ice caves, and we’d ridden hard for hours. Kaden had magically dried my cloak and leathers, but the howling wind had still managed to steal every last bit of heat from my limbs.
Giving up on the fire, Sorsha flopped down on her bedroll and pulled a wool saddle blanket over herself for added warmth. Kaden had gone in search of drier wood, and Adriel sat with his back against a towering pine tree, nursing a cup of tea as he glared into the darkness.
The burns on his face and neck were completely healed,thanks to Kaden’s magic. Adriel had volunteered to take first watch, so I unraveled my own blankets and curled up on my side.
The crackle of pine needles drew my attention as Kaden emerged from the shadows, carrying a bundle of aspen branches in his arms. Kneeling by the fire, he arranged the sticks in a careful formation before relighting it by magic.
Flames popped and danced, illuminating the chiseled planes of his handsome face. Dark hair fell into his stormy eyes, and I felt a familiar tug in my chest — the inescapable urge to be near him.
I swallowed and pulled my blankets tighter, determined to give him his space. He’d used too much magic today. Now was not the time to push his boundaries.
As if he could feel the intensity of my gaze, Kaden turned and crossed to my bedroll, settling on the edge of my blankets. A contented softness blunted the harsh edges of his expression, and when he reached out to brush the hair out of my face, warm tingles danced over my skin.
“Still awake, little huntress?”
I made a soft noise of assent.
“That was quite some trick you pulled today.”
I smiled despite my exhaustion. “Adriel and I didn’t think that bringing the entire cave down on our heads was the wisest move.”
“Hm. Perhaps not.” His hand lingered beside my ear, as if he just wanted an excuse to keep touching me. “Your way was better . . . though certainly less dramatic.”
I snorted, staring into those fathomless gray eyes that I loved so much. They were lined with weariness despite thesmile that played on his lips, and I could tell that he was worried. “Are you all right?”
“You mean, am I alone in my mind?”
I nodded.
Kaden’s smile faltered, and he dropped his gaze. “I can’t be sure. That’s what concerns me.”
“But you . . . feel like yourself?” I asked, reaching over and capturing his calloused hand in mine.
“I do when I’m with you.”
My breath caught as his finger trailed down my jaw, his thumb brushing over the swell of my lip. He studied me as if I were the answer to every question weighing on his mind, and I closed my eyes, trying to savor the moment.
Then I felt his warm breath on my face, and his lips replaced his thumb. A tender ache settled in my chest, and I nearly groaned aloud as his charred cedar-and-leather scent engulfed me. It mixed with the fresh pine of the forest and made me feel alive.
My hands wandered to his hair, spearing through his silky black locks and tugging him closer to deepen the kiss. Kaden made a low noise in his throat, snaking an arm around my waist and sliding onto the bedroll beside me.
I shivered at his touch — at the feeling of his strong body nestled against mine. He was all hard muscle, warmth, and wings. I wanted to wrap my legs around him and feel his hot, solid length pressed against my —
A loud splash made me freeze, and I looked over to see Adriel dumping the contents of his mug in the snow.
Kaden rolled his eyes as the royal guard got up and started fussing with the fire, aggressively stoking the flames before arranging the water pot on the coals to heat.
I was sure both males could hear the rapid drumbeat ofmy heart — the ragged hitch to my breath. And yet, I didn’t care.
Kaden shifted as if he planned to get up, but I held on to him. When he met my gaze, I felt stripped bare. My vulnerability was written all over my face, along with my reckless need.
I knew he was dangerous— that he wasn’t himself — and yet I didn’t want to spend another night apart from him.
Kaden wasalive. He was here with me, and I refused to let him go.
